Charge-arresting device for article accumulators



Nov. 14, 1961 s. T. CARTER 3,008,563

CHARGE-ARRESTING DEVICE: FOR ARTICLE AccuMuLAToRs Filed May 26. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 14, 1961 s. T. CARTER 3,008,563

CHARGE-ARRESTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLE ACCUMULATORS ATTYs.

Nov. 14, 1961 s. T. CARTER 43,008,563

CHARGE-ARRESTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLE ACCUMULATORS Filed May 26, 1959 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTYS.

nited States Patent C) 3,008,563 CHARGE-ARRESTING DEVTCE FOR ARTICLE ACCUMULATORS Sidney T.- Carter, Shrewsbury, Mass., assignor to Geo.

J. Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudahy, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 26, 1959, Ser. No. 815,877 23 Claims. (Cl. 198-30) This invention pertains to article-handling apparatus and relates, more particularly, to apparatus of that kind which includes a movable frame employed in the accumulation of, and Afor temporarily holding a charge, consisting of a plurality of rows of separate articles, for example bottles, and by means of which the accumulated articles may be moved, as a unit, to a delivery point, foi instance, a transfer position at which the charge moves from the frame into a carton.

In one well-known type of machine, an example of which is shown in the patent to Kimball, No. 2,219,827, dated October 29, 1940, designed automatically to pack bottles into cartons, the bottles come from the supply arranged in parallel rows separated by iixcd rails while standing upright upon a conveyor which advances all of the rows at the same linear velocity, and which delivers the bottles onto a Afixed grid consisting of spaced parallel bars. The bars of t-he grid are .spaced apart a distance -slightly exceeding the bottle diameter, and these bars are aligned respectively with the centers of the several `parallel paths between the Aiixed separator rails, so that the center of each bottle, as it is delivered by the conveyor onto the grid, will be supported by a grid bar. A charge-accumulating frame cooperates with the grid bars to position the bottles as they leave the conveyor. This frame comprises a plurality of parallel spacers or walls which are separated the same distance apart as the iixed rails above the conveyor. A fixed plate cooperates with these spacers or walls to form an end wall which coop,- erates with the parallel spacers to deiine a plurality of elongate bottle-receiving pockets corresponding in number to the number of rows of bottles on the conveyor. The depth of the pockets in the frame, in the direction of advance of the bottles, is such as to accommodate the desired number of bottles to form each respective row of the desi-red charge. This frame is capable of motion transversely of the grid, and when in charge-accumulating position has its spacers aligned with corresponding rails of the conveyor and its pockets registered with the rows of bottles advancing along on the conveyor; but when each of the pockets of t-he frame has received its full complement of bottles, the frame is moved transversely relatively to the bars of the grid until the bottles no longer receive support from the underlying grid bars, so that the unsupported bottles now drop down between the grid bars and into a suitable container, for example a carton, arranged immediately below the grid, and which is of the p-roper size to receive the entire 'charge of bottles consisting of a predetermined number of rows each consisting of the same number of bottles. In moving transversely to the charge-delivering position, the spacer or wall members of the frame are so displaced that an end of each respective wall is opposite the space between two of the iixed rails above the conveyor, and t-hus these ends of the spacers or wall elements of the frame constitute stops to prevent further advance of the forward bottles of the rows on the conveyor. It will be understood that the conveyor is of a type such that, if the forward ladvance of a bottle is arrested by its contact with an obstruction, slippage will occur between the surface of the constantly moving conveyor and the bottom of the bottle.

When the frame is returned empty to its charge-ac- ICC cumulating position with its pockets open for the reception of a new charge of bottles, each row of bottles resting on the conveyor is advanced so that the foremost bottle of each row enters one of the conveyor pockets and, being pushed ahead by the following bottles of said row, comes into contact with the stationary end wall of the frame. This forward advance of the bottles into the pockets is quite ra-pid since the frictional force between the conveyor surface and a long row of bottles standing thereon tends to impel the foremost bottle into the pocket at a speed closely approximating that of the conveyor, and thus the `foremost bottle, pushed ahead by the following bottles in the row, strikes the end wall of the frame `a very sharp blow. In apparatus of this type, it is highly desirable to provide for speeding up the operation as much as possible so that a given machine may operate at maximum capacity; but if the speed of the convey-or be increased beyond a certain amount, the shock which a bottle receives in contacting the end wall of the pocket becomes so great that breakage of bottles may become a frequent occurrence. Another diiculty experienced in conventional machines of this type is that the front bottle, especially if tall and slender, may fall forwardly in entering the frame pocket.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the shock, which commonly occurs lwhen the bottle strikes the end wall of the pocket of the frame, may be lessened to a degree permitting an increase in the speed of the conveyor beyond that normally considered a safe maximum, thus making it possible to obtain a greater output from a given machine without substantial increase in the frequency of bottle breakage.

A further object is to provide bottle-arresting means whereby a bottle, in entering the pocket of the frame, will be cushioned and gradually arrested thereby permitting operation of the supply conveyor at a substan tially increased rate of speed. A further object is to provide means, for so cushioning and gradually larresting the advancing bottle, which will be rapid in action and closely coordinated with the transverse movement of the frame so that the iilling and emptying of the frame will not be delayed by reason of the presence of the charge-cushioning device. A further object is to provide bottle-arresting means such as above suggested, which is strong and durable, simple and relatively inexpensive, and which is applicable to existing packing machines without substantial modiiication of the latter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means such a-s to prevent the forward tipping of bottles Yas they enter the pockets of the frame.

To this end, the present invention contemplates the provision of means whereby, as the advancing bottle enters the pocket of the accumulator frame, its speed of advance may be gradually -decreased so as to bring it to a comparatively smooth stop and thus greatly reduce the shock. In accomplishing this result, the machine is providedwith an automatically-acting, articledecelerating device for each of the several pockets of the frame, so designed that, as the advancing bottle enters a pocket, it encounters this decelerating device which, at the first contact, offers but little resistance to the bottle, but which is so devised as gradually to increase the resistance to bottle advance until, as the bottle nears the end of the pocket, it is brought to rest without dangerous shock.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the charge arrester device of this invention as utilized in a bottle-packing machine, the arrester device being shown in displaced position with a charge of bottles accumulated within the frame;

F FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device as shown in IG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan View similar to FIG. 1, showing the charge accumulator frame in charge-deliverlng position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. l, showing the charge-accumulating frame in charge-receiving position; and

FIG. 6 is a section, to larger scale on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Briefly described, the invention contemplates the provision of cylinders (one for each pocket of the frame) each having a piston member reciprocable therein, the piston having a rod which extends outwardly through the cylinder head and which is arranged to pass through an opening in the closed end wall of the frame when the latter is in the charge-receiving position, the outer end of the piston rod having a bottle-arresting or snubbing device which, at the beginning of this chargeforming operation, is located at a dwell point within the pocket but very near the receiving end of the pocket. Just before the frame arrives at the charge-receiving position, means is provided for delivering compressed air to the cylinder for moving the piston member so that the snubbing device is at the above-noted location at the proper instant, and for thereafter releasing cylinder pressure in such a way as to permit the piston and snubbing device to retreat gradually and thus decelerate the advance motion of the foremost bottle and, as the pocket in the frame is filled, completely to withdraw the snubbing device from the pocket so that the frame is free to move transversely to the discharge position.

The drawings show the charge arrester device of this invention, in its preferred embodiment, as utilized in a bottle-packing machine having a charge-accumulating frame 6 which receives and assembles a charge of bottles 8 and which subsequently shifts the charge to a position Where the bottles, making up the charge, drop, as a unit, into a carton or other receiver, not shown.

` In FIGS. l and 2 particularly, the bottle-packing machine is shown to include an endless conveyor 10 which is advanced at constant speed by conventional means, for moving bottles through the machine in the direction indicated by arrows 14. Fixed parallel, spaced guide rails 16 extend parallel to the direction of bottle movement and are suspended a short distance above the conveyor by conventional means (not shown) and dene parallel lanes along which parallel rows of bottles are advanced by the conveyor. As here illustrated, by way of example, seven such rails are shown as defining six such parallel lanes of equal width.

At the delivery end of the conveyor, there is provided a stationary bottle-supporting grid which is supported by a rigid, Vertical, horizontally-elongate plate 18 extending transversely of the several lanes. To the lower part of this plate are fixed parallel bottle-supporting bars 20 collectively constituting the grid, each bar being in the longitudinal, central, vertical plane of one of the bottleguiding lanes respectively, and each bar having its upper edge in the horizontal plane of the bottle-supporting surface of the conveyor. Those ends 20x of the bars which are adjacent to the conveyor are so contoured (as shown in FIG. 2) as to t closely about that portion of the conveyor which embraces its guiding roll R so that bottles may be discharged from the conveyor, without interruption, onto the several bars of the grid. As thus constructed, the grid will receive bottles from the conveyor in such a manner that successive bottles, advanced by the conveyor, tend to push one another along the supporting bars 20 of the grid and eventually into contact with ythe plate '18. The supporting bars 20 can bearings `carried by the frame.

be made long enough to support a row comprising whatever number of bottles may be desired. As here constructed, each bar will hold four bottles so that six bars of the grid will support a charge consisting of twentyfour bottles, a conventional charge for a shipping carton.

The xed plate 18 cooperates with the fixed bars 20, and with the transversely movable frame 6 to define a series of article-accumulating pockets, each normally aligned with one of the lanes along which the articles are advanced by the conveyor. To this end, the frame 6 comprises parallel, rigid Walls 22, each of which is suspended by means of an arm '24 (FIG. 3) from a horizontal rod 26 which is supported for endwise movement.

The transversely shiftable frame, comprising Ilthe walls 22 and the rod 26, is moved back and forth automatically in a regular cycle, such that, at one end of the cycle, the pockets P (dened by the spaced parallel walls 22, the upper part of the stationary plate 18 and the upper edges of the bars 20') are accurately aligned with the several lanes along which the articles are moved by the conveyor; while, at another part of the cycle, the side walls 22 of the pockets P are disposed in the vertical planes of the xed bars 20 of the grid so that those ends of the Walls 22 of the pockets which are remote from the stationary plate 18 are directly in the paths of bottles advancing along the several lanes by the conveyor. Thus, at the latter part of the cycle, these ends of the walls 22 constitute stops effectively preventing further advance of the foremost bottles in the several lanes. Obviously, when the shiftable frame is in the last-named position, the bottles are no longer supported by the bars 20 and thus the entire charge of bottles, which initially filled the pockets P, is free to drop as a unit downwardly from the pockets, which are now fully open at their bottoms. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the grid comprises an auxiliary bar 20a to provide a guide for the bottles of the foremost row as the latter drops down through the grid.

When the shiftable frame is in the bottle-discharging position, as shown in FIG. 4, with the ends o-f the walls 22 opposing the advance of the bottles by the conveyor, the bottles slip, relatively to the advancing conveyor, the latter being of the kind customarily employed in bottlelabeling machines and the like, so that such slippage is permitted. As soon as the empty frame returns (in the direction of arrow A, FIG. 4) to the charge-receiving position, as shown in FIG. 1, the endmost bottle in each lane is advanced rapidly into the corresponding pocket P of the frame, being thrust forward by the accumulated bottles behind it, the collective frictional force acting upon the long line of bottles causing the foremost bottle to pick up the speed of the conveyor almost instantly. Assuming that the accumulator device of the present invention is associated with a bottle-packing machine, the plate 18 may be supported by a part 28 (FIG. 3) connected to or forming a part of the machine frame. An upstanding bracket member 30 is also supported by the same part 28.

The rod 26 is actuated to move the accumulator frame, comprising the parallel walls 22, through the above-described cycle in conventional manner. For example, a horizontal rock shaft 32 is suitably supported by means (not shown) and carries a lever 34. A tension spring 36 connects the arm 34a of this lever to the frame at 30a. The other arm 34b of the lever carries a cam lfollow-up roll 38 which engages a cam 40 mounted on a shaft 40a. This shaft is constantly rotated, for example by connections (not shown) from the conveyor driving motor, and the rock shaft 32 is thus rocked back and forth by the cam and the spring 36. One end of the frame-supporting rod 26 is pivotally connected to the arm 34a of the lever at the point 34x, while the opposite end of the rod 2.6 is pivotally connected at 43 to the upper end of the arm 44 of a bell crank lever iixed to a rock shaft 45 which is parallel to the shaft '32 and which is supported in suitable The lever arms 34a aposfse and 44 are of equal length and the axes of the shafts 32 and 45 are spaced the same distance apart as the pivotal axes at 34x and y43, at which the ends of the rod 26 are connected to the lever arms. Thus, as the shaft 32 is rocked, the frame-supporting rod 26 is moved back and forth endwise, always parallel to the horizontal surface defined by the upper edges of the grid bars 20.

A frame F (FIG. 2) is fixed to the lower part of the plate 18 at the opposite side of the latter from the grid bars 20, this frame being of suitable shape and dimensions to provide a support for a plurality of elongate parallel cylinders 46, each cylinder having therein a piston 47 ('FIG 6) fixed to a piston rod 48, each cylinder, with its piston and piston rod, constituting a fluid pressure motor. These cylinders are secured to the frame F in any suitable manner and are so arranged that their longitudinal axes are in the vertical planes of the upper edges of the several 4bars 20 of the bottle-supporting grid. As more particularly illustrated in FIG. 6, each cylinder 46 is provided with a fixed head 49 at that end of the cylinder discs 64 are disposed within the respective openings 66, so as substantially to close said openings (FIG. 4). However, when the pistons 47 have been moved to the full extent to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, the snubbers 64 are located so that they constitute stops or abutments against which the foremost bottle in each of the respective lanes presses in response to the frictional force exerted by the conveyor.

Pressure tluid, for example compressed air, for actuating the pistons in the several cylinders is supplied through a pipe S (FIG. 1) from any convenient source and its delivery to and exhaust from the cylinders is controlled by a three-way solenoid-actuated valve 67 (FIG.

1). Current lfor energizing the solenoid of the valve 67 is controlled by a relay R (FIG. l) whose contacts at 68 are normally closed and whose contacts at 69 are norwhich is adjacent to the plate 18, and at its opposite end with a iixed head 50. The head 49 is provided with an axial bore in which the piston rod 48 slides, while the opposite head 50 is provided with an axial bore 51 providing a passage through which pressure fluid may enter or exhaust from the chamber C at the right-hand side of the piston y47, as seen in FIG. 6. The piston rod 48 has an extension 48a, to the right of the piston 47, and this extension terminates in a tapered portion 52-which, at times, is located within the bore 51, and when so located acts as a metering valve for controlling the flow of pressure fluid between the bore 51 and the chamber C. A collar 53, pinned to the part 48a of the piston rod, constitutes a stop to limit motion of the piston rod to the right as viewed in FIG. 6. The bore 51 in the head 50 of one of the cylinders of the series is provided with a branch passage 54 in which is xed the tubular stem 55 of a pressure-switch housing 56. This housing has an internal cylindrical chamber within which is arranged a piston 58, which is urged downwardly, as seen in FIG. 6, by a coil spring 59, and which has la rod extending out through `a bore in the end of the housing 56. To the outer end of this rod is attached the movable contact member 60 of a switch which, when the piston 58 is moved outwardly, connects the fixed contacts E and E' of an electrical circuit to be described. The outer end of the cylinder head 50 is provided with a bore 61, coaxial with the bore 51, which receives a pipe 62 which is connected, at its outer end, to a header 63, to which the corresponding pipes 62 of each of the several cylinders are connected, and which leads from a suitable source of pressure iluid, tor example compressed air, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The cylinder 46 is provided near its left-hand end, as viewed in 6, with one or more vent ports 65 so located as to permit free escape of air as the piston moves toward the cylinder head 49, but to be closed by the piston as the latter nears the end of its stroke so as to provide an air-cushion to act as a brake. Desirably, the piston 47 is provided at its left-hand side, as seen in FIG. 6, with a disc 47a of sponge rubber or the like, engageable with the inner surface of the cylinder head 49 when the piston is at the extreme left-hand limit of its stroke, thereby to lessen the shock of contact with the cylinder head 49. At its left-hand end, as viewed in FIG. 6, the

' piston rod is provided with a member 64, here shown as a disc and which is herein for convenience referred to as a snubber.

The plate 18, which forms the end closure Ifor the pockets P in the accumulating frame, is provided with openings 66 (FIG. -1) each of a size to receive a corresponding one of the snubber members 64 with an easy sliding lit; and the cylinders 46 are so positioned and the piston rods 48 are of such length that when the pistons are fully retracted, that is to say, atv the full extent of their movement to the right as viewed in FIG. 6, the snubber mally open. The bell crank lever which is fixed to shaft 45 (FIG. 3) has an arm 44a which carries the movable contact 70 of a switch 71 (FIG. 3), the parts -being so arranged that 'when the charge-accumulating frame 6 is in charge-receiving position (iFIG. 5), the bell crank lever 44a is positioned as shown in full lines in FIG. 3 so as to close the switch 71. This switch controls the leads 72 and 73 (FIGS. 1 and 3) by means of which current is supplied to the actuating solenoid for the valve 67, it being recalled that the contact 68 of the relay is normally closed. The switch-actuating bell crank (FIG. 3) is so arranged as to close the switch 71 as soon as the dividing walls 22 of the accumulating frame 6 have passed beyond the edges of the openings 66 in the plate 18 as the frame moves toward the position of FIG. 5 and before the frame has fully reached the charge-receiving position, so that pressure uid is admitted by the valve 67, through the pipe 63, and thus to all of the cylinders in time to advance all of the pistons to the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, to dispose the several snubbers 64 as shown in FIG. 5, just before the walls 22 of the accumulating frame free the leading bottles in the several lanes for entry into the pockets of the frame. As shown in FIG. 5, the piston rods are of such length that, when fully extended, the snubbers 64 are spaced inwardly from the left-hand ends of the pockets P in the accumulator frame so that there is a slight interval of time, after the ends of the Walls 22 release the foremost bottles and before they contact the snubbers during which the three-way valve has opened to release pressure in the chamber C of each cylinder. Thus, when the bottle contacts the snubber, the latter is capable of moving in response to the pressure of the bottle. During the motion of the pistons "47 to the left as viewed in FIG. 6, the air within the cylinder is permitted to escape through the vents 65, but as the piston passes these vents, pressure is built up within the left-hand ends of the cylinders, thus providing a cushioning action to bring the pistons to rest without shock.

When the piston arrives at the lleftJhand limit of its movement, the pressure builds up Iin the chamber C of each cylinder and becomes effective to raise the piston 58 of the cylinder which is provided with a switch housing 56, and thus closes lche circuit between the contacts E and E. The closure of this switch so energizes the yrelay R las to open the circuit at the Contact 68 and to close the circuit a-t the contact 69, thus breaking the circuit through the solenoid which controls the valve 67, whereupon the valve shifts and thus permits release of air from the several cylinders. The pistons may now return to the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, as yabove noted, in response to the pressure exerted upon the snubbers by the bottles as the latter are urged forwardly by the conveyor, the gradual escape of `air from the cylinder, as permitted by the opening of the three-way valve 67, providing a cushioning effect which gradually decelerates the bottles as they move lalong the pookets'P of the accumulator frame toward the plate v18. As the piston nears the right-hand end of its travel, the tapered valve member 52, entering the bore 51, rapidly reduces the rate at which air may escape from the chamber C, so that, as the piston nears lthe right-hand end of its stroke, the motion of the advanclng foremost bottle is iinally so reduced that, when it contacts the plate 18, it does so without appreciable shock. In this construction, it is obvious that the charge of bottles entering the frame 6 is gradually cushioned or arrested within the lframe by the charge arrester device so that the belt 10, moving the charge i-nto the frame, can be operated at high speed without causing excessive bottle breakage. Further, if any line of bottles has been interrupted or delayed in moving along the conveyor 10, the piston member, adapted to engage that line of bottles, will not be displaced prematurely. Since this charge arrester device is so fast-acting and so well-coordinated with shifting of the frame, no delay in frame operation beyond that required for actual entry of the full charge into the frame is caused by the use ofthe arrester device. Moreover, since the ycharge arrester device of this invention is independent of the frame 6, the device can be associated with a conventional charge-receiving frame with little difficulty, and applied to a machine which is provided with other conventional bottle-handling features, such as individual bottle chutes depending from the supporting rails 20 or check means for withholding shifting of the frame when the `frame is only partially filled.

The operation of the device may be described briefly as follows, it being assumed that the charge-accumulating frame -6 has just started to move towards charge-receiving position at which its several pockets will be aligned with the rows of bottles on the conveyor (its previous charge of bottles having been discharged downwardly into or onto a receiver arranged below the grid comprising the iixed bars 20) this discharge position being indicated in FIG. 4. At this time, the switch 71 will be open and the relay R and the three-way solenoid valve 67 will be de-energized. The motor cylinders will be open to the atmosphere through the three-way solenoid valve 67 and the pistons will be in their fully retracted position as shown in FIG. l. When the charge-accumulating frame 6, in moving toward charge-receiving position, reaches the position indicated by the broken line Z (FIG. 4), the switch 71 will close and energize the solenoid Valve 67 through the normally closed contacts Of relay R. The energizing of the three-way solenoid valve 67 will allow air under pressure to enter all of the motor cylinders and push all of the pistons tothe left, as shown in FIG. 5. The pressure switch 56 at the end of one of the cylinders 416 is set to operate `at a higher pressure than is necessary to push all of the pistons to their full forward position. This is to insure that all pistons Wiil be in their full forward position before the pressure in the piston can be built high enough to actuate the pressure switch 56 and close the contacts. The vents at the left-hand end of each cylinder, as shown in FIG. 6, will be closed by the piston just before the latter reaches the end of its operative stroke so as to provide a cushioning action, this position being indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6. When all of the pistons have stopped in their most advanced positions, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure switch 56 is then actuated and Jche contacts E, E' of this switch will close and energize relay R, whose normally open contacts 69 are now closed, which locks the relay, while the normally closed contacts 68 open and de-energize the three-way solenoid valve 67. The deenergizing of this solenoid valve releases the air in the cylinders to the atmosphere. When the charge-shifting frame 6 fully reaches its charge-receiving position (FIG. the bottles are released to enter the charge-shifting frame and will contact the snubbers 64 at the ends of the respective piston rods, these snubbers, at this time, standing in the position indicated in FIG. 5. The new charge of bottles move a short distance into the frame pockets before they contact the snubbers. Since the three-way solenoid valve has now been positioned to permit air to escape from the cylinders, the snubbers will move back by the pressure of the incoming bottles, gradually expelling the air from the cylinders, and thus the snubbers act gradually to reduce the velocity of the bottles as they enter the pockets of the charge-accumulating frame. When the frame is hlled, the pistons will have been pushed Ibackward until the snubbers 64 occupy the inoperative position shown in FIG. 4, where they no longer interfere with the lateral motion of the accumulator frame, which'now may be shifted, either by hand or automatically by the mechanism above suggested, for disposing the frame in the full line position shown in FIG. 4, where the bottles may drop into or onto any suitable type of receiver. At this time, the switch 71 will be open and thus the relay R will bede-energized; but, as the frame starts back toward its charge-receiving position shown in FIG. 5, the contacts of switch 71 will be closed and the sequence of operations will be repeated.

Although, the apparatus as herein disclosed is speciiicially shown and described as yfor accumulating a charge of bottles -for delivery as a unit into a carton or other packing device, it is to be understood that it is equally useful for accumulating a charge of other articles, either for packing or for other purposes, and whe-n herein bottles are referred to as the articles which are to be handled, it is to be understood that the ter-m bottle is employed merely in an illustrative sense and for clarity in description and is to be construed as broadly inclusive of -any article capable of being handled or manipulated in substantially the same way as the bottles herein speciiically referred to.

It should be understood that, although the charge arrester device of this invention is shown as pneumatically operated in response to electrical controls, it is contemplated that the desired deceleration of the artic-les as they enter the accumulator frame may be accomplished, within the broad scope of the invention by equivalent app-aratus, for example, by purely mechanical devices, and that although the particular embodiment of the invention here illustrated is the preferred embodiment of this invention, the invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination with a charge-accumulating device comprising means defining an elongate pocket closed at one end and open at the other and having spaced parallel side walls and into which articles are advanced, one after another, until a predetermined number of articles has accumulated as a row in said pocket, means for delivering articles, one after another, into the `receiving end of the pocket, and means operative gradually to reduce the linear velocity of an article as it moves along said pocket from its receiving end toward the closed end of the pocket, thereby to prevent damaging shock to the article as it is brought to rest, the means for 'reducing the linear velocity of the article, in moving along the pocket, comprising a snubber movable lengthwise of the pocket, means for advancing the snubber toward the receiving end of the pocket and for temporarily holding it at a dwell position within, but adjacent to the extreme end of the pocket, means for releasing the snubber so that it may retreat from the open end of the pocket -as an article enters the pocket, and means for retarding free motion of the snubber in response to the pressure of an advancing article against the snubber.

2. In combination with a charge-accumulating device comprising means defining an elongate pocket closed at one end and open at the other and having spaced parallel side walls and into which articles are advanced, one after another, until a predetermined number of articles has accumulated as a row in said pocket, means for delivering articles, one after another, into the receiving end of the pocket, and means operative gradually to reduce the linear velocity of an article as it moves along said pocket from its receiving end toward the closed end of the pocket, thereby to prevent damaging shock to the article as it is brought to rest, the means for reducing the linear velocity of the article, in moving along the pocket, comprising a snubber movable lengthwise of the pocket, characterized in having a motor device for advancing the snubber toward the receiving end of the pocket, means for supplying an actuating medium to the motor device, thereby so to advance the snubber, means operative to cut-oft 4the supply of actuating medium to the motor device as an article enters the pocket, thereby to permit the snubber to retreat in response to the pressure of the article, and means for retarding the retreat of the snubber from the receiving end of the pocket.

3. In combination with a charge-accumulating device comprising means defining an elongate pocket closed at one end and open at the other and having spaced parallel side walls and into which articles are advanced, one after another, until a predetermined number of articles has accumulated as a row in said pocket, means for delivering articles, one after another, into the receiving end of the pocket, and means operative gradually to reduce the linear velocity of an article as it moves along said pocket from its receiving end toward the closed end of the pocket, thereby to prevent damaging shock to the article as it is brought to rest, and wherein the means for reducing the linear velocity of the article comprises a snubber movable lengthwise of the pocket, and articledetaining means operative temporarily to prevent entry of an article into the receiving end of the pocket, characterized in having means operative to move the snubber toward the receiving end of the pocket and temporarily to hold the snubber in a dwell position within, but adjacent to the extreme end of the pocket, means operative to release the snubber to permit it to retreat from the receiving end of the pocket, and means operative so to actuate the article-detaining means as to allow an article to enter the receiving end of the pocket just after the snubber is released to permit it to retreat.

4. In combination with a charge-accumulating device comprising means defining an elongate pocket closed at one end and open at the article-receiving end, said pocket having spaced parallel side walls and into which articles are advanced, one after another, until a predetermined number of articles has accumulated as a row in said pocket, means for delivering articles, one after another, into the open end of the pocket, and means operative to reduce the linear velocity of an article as it moves along said pocket from its open end toward its opposite end, thereby to prevent damaging shock to the article as it is brought to rest, said means for reducing the linear velocity of the article comprising a part Which is movable longitudinally of the pocket and which is disposed adjacent to the receiving end of the pocket in position to be contacted by the iirst article to enter the pocket, characterized in having means whereby a variable retarding force is applied to said part, said force being at a maximum, when the part is rst contacted by the article.

5. In combination with a charge-accumulating device comprising means dening an elongate pocket closed a-t one end and open at its opposite end and having spaced parallel side walls and into which articles are advanced, one after another, until a predetermined number of articles has accumulated as a row in said pocket, means for delivering articles, one after another, into the open end of the pocket, and pneumatic retarding means operative to oppose a maximum resistance to motion of the article as the article enters the pocket and then to oppose a lesser resistance while the article is moving along the 4pocket toward its opposite end.

10 acterized in having means operative, as the article nears the closed end of the pocket, to increase the resistance to its motion, thereby to bring it to rest without damaging shock.

8. In combination with a charge-accumulating device comprising 4means delining an elongate pocket closed at one end and open at the other and having spaced parallel side Walls and into which articles are advanced, one after another, until a predetermined number of articles has accumulated as a row in said pocket, means for delivering articles, one after another, into the open end of the pocket, fixed means operative to support the articles as they move, one after another, along the pocket toward its closed end, the means which define the side walls of said pocket being movable in a direction transversely of the pocket, relatively to said supporting means whereby, when the pocket has received its full charge of articles, the pocket-defining walls may be moved thereby to render ineiective the article supporting means, so that the charge of articles may drop lfrom the pocket, and means including a snubber operative, by contact with the foremost article, to enter the pocket, thereby toreduce the linear velocity of the articles as they move along the pocket, the parts being so constructed and arranged that, when the pocket has received its full charge, the snubber is free from contact with the vforemost article in the row.

9. In combination with a charge-accumulating device comprising means defining a plurality of parallel pockets, each for the reception of a charge consisting of a predetermined number of articles and each having spaced parallel sidewalls, a closed end and an open end, means operative to advance articles, one after another, into the open end of each respective pocket, a snubber device movable lengthwise of each respective pocket, from an inoperative to an operative position, the closed end of each pocket having an opening through which the snubber can pass and the snubber being wholly outside of the pocket when inoperative, drive means operative to advance each snubber into its pocket from the opening in the closed end of its pocket, and to stopit at a dwell position spaced from the open end of its pocket, but adjacent thereto, and where it will be contacted by the irst article to enter the pocket, means whereby said drive means becomes ineffective to maintain the snubber in said dwell position, as the first article enters the pocket, and means operative to oppose the retreat of each individual snubber toward the closed end of its pocket in response to the pressure of the advancing article against it.

l0. The combination according to claim 9, wherein each snubber is Xed to one end of a rod which is reciprocable in the opening in the end wall of the corresponding pocket, a duid-pressure motor for actuating each rod, means operative rst to admit fluid at a maximum predetermined pressure to the motor, thereby to advance the snubber toward the open end of the pocket, means operative to terminate the advance of the snubber when the latter arrives at a dwell position spaced from, but near the receiving end of the pocket, and then to cut-off the supply of fluid to the motor, and means to permit pressure fluid to exhaust from the motor at a substantially uniform rate until the snubber nears the closed end of the pocket.

l1. In combination, in -a machine for assembling individual articles in a predetermined arrangement to form a charge and in which a conveyor tends to advance parallel rows of articles into corresponding elongate pockets in a charge-accumulating frame, charge-retarding means comprising a plurality of snubbers, each movable lengthwise of one of the respective pockets, drive means operative to move each of the several snubbers, from an inoperative position outside of its pocket, toward the articlereceiving end of its respective pocket, and temporarily to hold it in a dwell position, such as to be contacted by an article entering the pocket, means whereby each snubber is released so that it may retreat from said dwell position l1 as an article enters the pocket, means to regulate the speed of retreat of each snubber in response to the pressure of an article against it after the snubber leaves said dwell position, and means acting in timed relation to said snubbers for moving the charge-accumulating frame from a charge-receiving to a charge-delivering position after the snubbers have returned to inoperative position.

12. In combination, in an article-packing machine wherein a conveyor advances parallel rows of articles at high linear velocity and wherein a charge-accumulating frame having a plurality of rows of elongate-receiving pockets is movable from a charge-receiving position to a charge-delivering position, and wherein actuating mechanism moves the frame cyclically from one of said positions to the other in alternation, means to decelerate the articles as they enter the pockets of the frame, said decelerating means comprising a snubber movable longitudinally of each respective pocket of the frame, a fluidpressure motor for moving each snubber, each motor comprising an elongate cylinder, a piston therein, a piston rod connected at one end to the piston and having the snubber attached to its opposite end, a valve device for controlling the admission .to and release of pressure fluid from the cylinder, said valve device being operative automatically to admit pressure lluid for advancing the snubber toward the article-receiving end of the pocket as the frame approaches article-receiving position and for stopping it at a dwell point within and near the open end of the pocket as the frame arrives at article-receiving position, means operative to actuate the valve to cut-off the supply of pressure fluid from the cylinder as the rst article enters the pocket, and means operative to permit release of pressure from the cylinder at a predetermined rate, thereby to decelerate the articles as they move along the pocket.

13. The combination according to` claim 12, wherein means is provided for lessening the rate of escape of pressure uid from the cylinder as the article nears the closed end of the cylinder, thereby quickly to increase the pressure within the cylinder as the snubber nears the closed end of the pocket.

14. The combinaiton according to claim 13, wherein for decreasing the rate of escape of uid from the cylinder, as the snubber nears the closed end of the pocket, each piston rod is provided with a tapering valve member which cooperates with a port through which pressure uid escaped from the cylinder, thereby to reduce the rate of escape and thus rapidly decelerate the motion of the piston as the snubber nears the closed end of the pocket in the `frame.

l5. The combination according to claim 12, wherein that end of the piston rod which is remote from the snubber comprises a tapering portion constituting a valve and the cylinder has a head provided with a port which receives said plug as the piston moves away `from the article-receiving end of the pocket, thereby rapidly decreasing the rate of discharge of pressure iluid from the cylinder, and means operative positively to limit motion of the piston in the last-named direction, thereby to prevent said valve from becoming wedged in the port.

16. In combination with a bottle-packing machine of the kind wherein a constantly moving conveyor tends to advance a plurality of parallel rows of bottles toward an accumulator frame having parallel elongate pockets, each of a length to accommodate a row comprising a predetermined number of bottles, the frame being movable in a direction at right angles to the direction of motion of the conveyor, mechanism for moving the frame from a position such that its pockets are aligned with respective rows of bottles on the conveyor, to a position at which bottles Within the frame may be discharged therefrom, snubbing means operative gradually to reduce the speed of bottles advanced into the pockets of the frame by the conveyor, said snubbing means comprising elements arranged to be contacted by the leading bottles of each respective row as they enter the pockets and which, at the instant of Contact, oppose a maximum degree of yieldable resistance to the advance of the bottles, means whereby, after a bottle has once contacted a snubber, the degree of resistance oiered by the snubber to advance of the bottle is then diminished, and means whereby the resistance to advance of the bottles -then remains substantially constant until the leading bottles near the closed ends ofthe pockets.

17. The combination, according to claim 16, having actuating means whereby the elements which are contacted by the leading bottles of the several rows are moved into the frame and positioned for contact by the leading bottles of the respective rows, said actuating means comprising individual pneumatic motors each corresponding to one of said pockets, and means for coordinating the admission of pressure fluid to the several pneumatic motors with the motion of the frame in passing from bottle-discharging to bottle-receiving position.

18. The combination, according to claim 16, wherein each pneumatic motor comprises an elongate cylinder having therein a piston provided with a rod having a snubbing element secured to its outer end, valve means for controlling the admission to and release of pressure iluid from the cylinder, the admission of pressure iluid so moving the piston as to advance the snubbing element from an inoperative position into a corresponding pocket of the frame and to a position to be contacted by the leading bottle of a row as the latter begins to enter the pocket, and valve means operative gradually to release pressure fluid from the cylinder thereby to permit the snubbing element to retreat at a regulated speed in response to the pressure of the leading bottle of the row,

19. In combination with a bottle-packing machine of the kind wherein a constantly moving conveyor tends to advance a plurality of parallel rows of bottles toward an accumulator frame having parallel elongate pockets, each of a width and length to accommodate a row cornprising a predetermined number of bottles, the frame being movable in a direction at right angles to the direction of motion of the conveyor, and having mechanism for moving the frame from a position such that its pockets are aligned with the respective rows of bottles on the conveyor to a position at which the bottles within the frame may be discharged therefrom, snubbing means operative gradually to reduce the speed of bottles advanced into the pockets of the frame by the conveyor, said snubbing means comprising elements which are contacted by the leading bottles of each respective row and which retreat along the respective pockets at a controlled rate of speed in response to the pressure of said leading bottles, actuating means whereby the snubbing elements, which are contacted by the leading bottles of the several rows, are moved into the frame and positioned for contact by the leading bottles of the respective rows, said actuating means comprising individual pneumatic motors, each corresponding to one of said pockets, and means for coordinating the admission of pressure uid to Ilthe several pneumatic motors with the motion of the frame in passing from the bottle-discharging to bottle-receiving position, each pneumatic motor comprising an elongate cylinder having therein a piston provided with a rod having a snubbing element secured to its outer end, valve means for controlling the admission to land release of pressure fluid from the cylinder, the admission of pressure iluid so moving the piston as to advance the snubbing element `from an inoperative position into a corresponding pocket of the frame and to a position to be contacted by the leading bottle of a row as the latter begins to enter the pocket and valve means gradually to release pressure fluid from the cylinder, thereby to permit the snubbing element to retreat at a regulated speed in response to the pressure of the leading bottle of the row, wherein a solenoid actuates the valve which controls the admission of pressure uid to the cylinder, and

wherein `a switch controls the current for energizing the solenoid for opening the valve, and means for coordinating the closure of the switch' with the motion of the frame toward bottle-receiving position.

20. In combination wit-h a bottle-packing machine of the kind wherein a constantly moving conveyor tends to advance a plurality of parallel rows of bottles toward an accumulator frame having parallel elongate pockets, each of a width and length to accommodate a row comprising a predetermined number of bottles, the frame being movable in a direction at right angles to the direction of motion of the conveyor, and having mechanism for moving the frame from a position such that its pockets are aligned with the respective rows of bottles on the conveyor to a position at which the bottles within the frame may be discharged therefrom, snubbing means operative gradually to reduce the speed of bottles advanced into the pockets of the frame by the conveyor. said snubbing means comprising elements which are contacted by the leading bottles of each respective row and which retreat along the respective pockets at a controlled rate of speed in response to the pressure of said leading bottles, actuating means whereby the snubbing elements, which are contacted by the leading bottles of the several rows, are moved into the frame and positioned for con-` tact by the leading bottles of the respective rows, said actuating means comprising individual pneumatic motors, each corresponding to one of said pockets, and means for coordinating the admission of pressure uid to the several pneumatic motors with the motion of the frame in passing from the bottle-discharging to bottle-receiving position, each pneumatic motor comprising an elonk gate cylinder having therein a piston provided with a rod having a snubbing element secured to its outer end, valve means for controlling the admission to and release of pressure fluid from the cylinder, the admission of pressure fluid so moving thepiston as to advance the snubbing element from an inoperative position in-to a corretsponding pocket of the frame and to a position to be contacted by the leading bottle of a row as the latter begins to enter the pocket and valve means gradually to release pressure uid from the cylinder, thereby to permit the snubbing element `to retreat at a regulated speed in response to the pressure of the leading bottle of the row, and pressure-actuated switch means, responsive tthe building up of `a predetermined pressure the motor cylinder, so actuates said solenoid and valve as to permit pressure fluid to escape from the cylinder.

21. The combination, according to claim 18, wherein the cylinder has a fixed head at each end, one head having an axial bore through which the piston rod passes, the cylinder having a vent -hole in its wall adjacentto said last-named head, which is closed by said piston as the latter moves to `advance the snubber to operative position, said vent hole permitting rapid advance of the piston until the piston closes the vent hole, the closure of the vent hole by the piston providing an air cushion between the piston and cylinder head to prevent sharp impact of the piston against the cylinder head.

22. The combination, according to claim 21, wherein the cylinder has a fixed head at each end, one head having therein a port for the admission and escape of pressure uid and a port-controlling valve connected to the 14 piston, and which is operative to restrict said port as the piston approaches said last-named cylinder head.

23. In combination with a bottle-packing machine of the kind wherein a constantly moving conveyor tends to advance a plurality of parallel rows of bottles toward an accumulator frame having parallel elongate pockets, ea-ch of, a width and length to accommodate a row comprising a predetermined number of bottles, the frame being movable in a direction at right angles to the direction of motion of the conveyor, and having mechanism for moving the frame from a position such that its pockets are aligned with the respective rows of bottles on the conveyor to a position at which the bottles within the frame may be discharged therefrom, snubbing means operative gradually to reduce the speed of bottles advanced Vinto -the pockets of the frame by the conveyor, said snubbing means comprising elements which are contacted by the leading bottles of each respective row and which retreat along the respective pockets at a controlled rate of speed in responseto the pressure of said leading bottles, actuating means whereby the snubbing elements, which are contacted by the leading bottles of the several rows, are moved into the frame and positioned for contact by the leading bottles of the respective rows, said actuating means comprising individual pneumatic motors,

. each corresponding to one of said pockets, and means for coordinating the admission of pressure fluid to the several pneumatic motors with the motion of the frame in passing from the bottle-discharging to bottle-receiving position, each pneumatic motor comprising an elongate cylinder having therein a piston provided with a rod having a snubbing element secured to its outer end, valve means for controlling the admission to and release of pressure fluid from the cylinder, the admission of pressure fluid so moving the piston as to advance the snubbing element `from an inoperative position into a corresponding pocket of the frame and to a position to be contacted by the leading bottle of -a row as the latter begins to enter the pocket and valve means gradually to release pressure fluid from :the cylinder, thereby to permit the snubbing element to retreat at a regulated speed in response to the pressure of the leading bottle of the row, wherein a solenoid-actuated three-way valve provides for the admission to and release of pressure iiuid from the cylinder, and wherein, when the solenoid is energized, pressure fluid is admitted to the cylinder and when the solenoid is de-energized Huid is permitted to escape from the cylinder to the atmosphere, means for energizing the solenoid in response to movement of the accumulator rframe to charge-receiving position, and means operative to deenergize the solenoid in response to the building up of a predetermined fluid pressure within the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 461,347 Krone Oct. 13, 1891 1,745,381 Ray Feb. 4, 1930 1,780,531 Messier Nov. 4, 1930 2,358,447 Creamer Sept. 19, 1944 2,650,746 Rideout et al. Sept. 1, 1953 2,681,171 Brown et al. .Tune 15, 1954 2,682,983 Ashcroft `luly 6, 1954 

